The Washington critic., 1887-05-21
AN IMPOSTOR.

hair, In white wrapper, gazing some.
what disconsolately from an open
window.
The clock had struck 10, and, &C.
cording to the recipe for being healthy,
wealthy and wise, as well as the rules
Of Nine. Mickles' establishment, this
young person should have been In bed
and asleep; instead of which she was
gazing into futurity and almost Won
dering for what earthly purpose she
had been born. She was II and pretty
really very pretty, In her way. which
every one pronounced 80 odd, you
know f" The day before had been
graduating day, and she, too, had had
her white dress and dainty gloves and
slippers, and all the ct ceteras Of such
occasions, taking, as she rather bitterly
thought, the whole of her Christmas
present from the wealthy cousin who
had generously kept her at Nine.
Mickles that she might be qualified for
the post of under. teacher.
In the next house large party was
In progress, and the star.gazer was en-.
abled TO see much of what was going
on--window being raised and lace dra.
peries waving in the soft June breeze.
A party, indeed What would she
have to do with parties? She won.
dered who would ever ask her 10 one.
Here she caught glimpse of girls
figure In white, and, beside her, q tall,
distinguished looking man, with such
face as sometimes visits one In a
dream-a face that might have be.
longed, she thought, to hero of the
middle ages. And the girl at the win.
dow envied the girl surrounded by
light and love, and wondered II, after
all, she were so very much prettier and
more attractive than herself.
An idea flashed into her mind-she
would see. 1t would be something to
do In the way of amusement. And
quick as thought she had drawn The
shades down, lighted the gas, and un.
earthed her graduating dress from the
drawer. 1t was beautifully made, this
simple white tarlatan, and fitted her
slender figure perfectly. But Miss
Lfftwood's crownmg glory was the
ginning mass of golden hair which
'ppleu iuT DelOW ueT WhIst.
Almost before she realized what she
was doing, little feet twinkled rapidly
down the stairs; a white.robed figure
with flying hair fluttered like q butter.
fly across the alley, where convenient
gate afforded entrance to the premises
of the party. giving people. and Mar
garet Liftwood, saying to herself In
mingled terror and delight: "An
adventure an adventure !' suddenly
stood at the side door of house with
the owners of which she had never ex-
changed word and did not even know
them by sight. 1t stood wide open,
and there was no one around.
She advanced to the staircase and
stood gazing undecldedly upon the gay
scene beyond, when the very girl she
had watched from the window, flying
up 10 her with the most beaming of
faces, embraced her rapturously.
II knew you would comel"
did yous'responded the bcwildered
intruder.
"Yes, you dear, darling Daisy was
sure of 1t. and told Regy so. You don't
know how we have talked you overl
You have not seen him yet, / suppose?
But who brought you, dear?-or were
you waited on thistle. down."
Don't ask me any questions,
please" replied our heroine, dread.
fully embarrassed.
II understand you. You shall not
be plagued, dear. But let me get q
good look at you. Why, Daisy, you
are lovely And so like your photo.
graph, only great deal prettler To
think of Its being six years since we
met But here comes Reginald. Per.
haps / ought to retire, though 1t Is
all in the family, you know"
After her first feelings of half.terrl-
fed embarrassment Margaret resolved
to give herself up to the enjoyment of
the thing and find out, If possible, who
Daisy" and who her new friends
were.
To her great delight some one ad.
dressed her male companion as "Mr.
Glade"-a title which she speedily be.
slowed upon him in turn; but the an.
swer was accompanied by most re.
proachful look.
cam Mr., Glade to you, Daisey
could not think of calling you Miss
Charters"
"You could not, indeed" thought
Margaret, with an inward laugh, ''if
you knew We are certainly strangers,
to all intcnts and purposes. and we
may be better friends hereafter by moi
being too familiar"
Margaret was led, rather against her
will, into the conservatory.
"Do not be alarmed" said Mr.. Glade,
In a fatherly, reassurlng manner; 81
want to tell you that l know all about
1t. Your"
"Ohl' exclaimedthe girl, In a par.
oxysm of shame; "what must you
think of me, | must go at once"
"lndeed you will notl" replied her
companion, with OBTAINING arms.
Daisy my own little cousinl viii
you never forgive me? l claim you
as my promised wife, now and alwaysv'
With frightened shrek Margare,
tore herself from his grasp, and before
Reginald could recover from his aston
ishment she fed through the side door
and back to her own premises,
The next day Mrs, Callisters equi.
page stopped at Nine. Mickles' door
and Its stately occupant asked for Mis-:
Liftwood.
The young lady shook all over
Her cousin had heard, then, OF her
"evening out" and had come to up
braid her.
But Mrs. Callister did not appear in
the role of Nemesis. Sue had JUS
moved to her country seat for the sum
mer-felt a little lonely, and did no
expect any fashionable visitors yet-sC
concluded to give her little cousin thu
benefit of a fortnight's sojourn a
Beechwood.
Margaret was most pleasantly per
vaded by the consciousness of goo(
looks and becoming attire one after
noon about week after her arrival as